Supporting structure and supporting mechanism for backlight module

ABSTRACT

A supporting mechanism of a backlight module includes a first member, a second member, and a connector connecting the first and second members. The first member has an initial thickness and the second member also has an initial thickness. The initial thickness of the first member is greater than that of the second member and the first member is longer than the second member.

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Application Serial No.094130527, filed Sep. 6, 2005, the subject matter of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a supporting structure and a supportingmechanism for a backlight module.

Typically, two materials are connected in an edge-to-edge manner (named“butt-connection”, wherein the two materials generally have the samethickness). However the relationship between thickness of materials andsupporting force that an article needs in practice is not considered.For example, the supporting mechanism of a backlight module includes twopairs of metal bars wherein one pair differs from the other pair inlength. All of the metal bars are of the same thickness andbutt-connected to constitute the supporting mechanism. The longer metalbars of the supporting mechanism are required to provide greatersupporting force for supporting the backlight module than the shortermetal bars. Therefore, forming the supporting mechanism by metal bars ofthe same thickness not only wastes material but increases themanufacturing cost and the weight of the backlight module.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a supporting structure and a supporting mechanismfor a backlight module. The supporting mechanism for a backlight modulecomprises a first member, a second member, and a connector. The firstmember has an initial thickness and at least a fixing portion. Thefixing portion provides the supporting mechanism to connect to thebacklight module. The second member has an initial thickness. Theinitial thickness of the first member is greater than the initialthickness of the second member, and the length of the first member isgreater than the length of the second member. The connector is locatedbetween the first member and second member to form butt connectiontherebetween. The connector may be a welding material or glue.

In another embodiment, a material is cut into a single member. Thesingle member is a combination of the first and second members. Thesingle member is an L shape or is approximately an L shape. The firstmember, the second member and the connector are formed as a single,unitary member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequentdetailed description in conjunction with the examples and referencesmade to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a backlight module of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged drawing of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a supporting mechanism 10 of a backlightmodule comprises a first member 11 and a second member 12. In thisembodiment, the first member 11 and the second member 12 are metal barsand butt connected forming the supporting mechanism 10. The first member11 has an initial thickness D₁ and the second member 12 has an initialthickness D₂. The first member 11 further comprises fixing portions 111and 112 to provide the first member 11 to connect to other elements onthe backlight module (not shown). Thus, before manufacturing the firstmember 11, the initial thickness D₁ is predetermined. After determiningthe initial thickness D₁, the size and position of the fixing portions111 and 112 is defined. The initial thickness D₂ is defined similarly.The second member 12 comprises fixing portions 121 and 122 to providethe second member 12 to connect to other elements on the backlightmodule (not shown). In this embodiment, fixing portions 111 and 121 aremounting holes for providing openings through which the first and secondmembers 11 and 12 are connected to other elements on the backlightmodule via screws. The fixing portions 112 and 122 protrude on the firstmember 11 and second member 12 respectively to connect to other elementson the backlight module. In another embodiment, a material is cut into asingle member. The single member is combination of the first and secondmember 11 and 12. The single member is an L shape or is approximately anL shape. The first member 11, the second member 12 and the connector 13are formed as a single, unitary member.

Referring to FIG. 1, the first member 11 is butt connected to the secondmember 12 via the connector 13. In this embodiment, the connector 13 maybe a welding material or glue. The initial thickness D₁ of the firstmember 11 is greater than the initial thickness D₂ of the second member12. The length L₁ of the first member 11 is greater than the length L₂of the second member 12.

The initial thickness D₁ and the initial thickness D₂ are definedaccording to support force that the first member 11 and the secondmember 12 need. In this embodiment, a backlight module comprises twopairs of sides. One pair of sides are greater than the others. The firstmember 11 requires greater support force to support the larger sides ofa backlight module. Thus, initial thickness D₁ of the first member 11 isgreater than the initial thickness D₂ of the second member 12. Thus, theinvention may decrease the cost and weight of a backlight module.

The invention can be applied to a supporting structure which comprises aplurality of members butt connected to each other to provide a supportforce. The member which provides greater support force (usually a longerside in a supporting structure) has greater thickness. The member whichprovides less support force (usually a shorter side in a supportingstructure) has less thickness. The invention decreases cost and weightof a supporting structure.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (aswould be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope ofthe appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

1. A supporting structure, comprising: a first member having an initialthickness; a second member having an initial thickness; and a connectorlocated between the first member and second member to butt therebetween,wherein the initial thickness of the first member is greater than thatof the second member, and the length of the first member is greater thanthat of the second member.
 2. The supporting structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first member and second member are made of the samematerial.
 3. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst member and second member are metal.
 4. The supporting structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is a welding material.
 5. Thesupporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector isglue.
 6. The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst member, the second member and the connector are formed into onepiece.
 7. A supporting mechanism for a backlight module, comprising: afirst member having an initial thickness and at least one fixing portionconfigured to connect with the backlight module; a second member havingan initial thickness; and a connector located between the first memberand the second member to butt therebetween, wherein the initialthickness of the first member is greater than that of the second member;and the length of the first member is greater than that of the secondmember.
 8. The supporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the first member and the second member are metal. 9.The supporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 7,wherein the connector is a welding material.
 10. The supportingmechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 7, wherein theconnector is glue.
 11. The supporting mechanism for a backlight moduleas claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing portion comprises aprotrusion.
 12. The supporting mechanism for a backlight module asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing portion comprises a hole.
 13. Thesupporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 7,wherein the fixing portion comprises a protrusion and a hole.
 14. Thesupporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 7,wherein the second member has at least a fixing portion.
 15. Thesupporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 14,wherein the fixing portion of the second member comprises a hole. 16.The supporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim 14,wherein the fixing portion of the second member comprises a protrusion.17. The supporting mechanism for a backlight module as claimed in claim14, wherein the fixing portion of the second member comprises aprotrusion and a hole.
 18. The supporting mechanism for a backlightmodule as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first member, the secondmember and the connector are formed into one piece.